Technology and lifestyle today

Within the Department of Defense (DoD), A UID is a unique permanent marking on an item. These markings – generally found on UID labels – distinguish each item from any other item in the DoD’s inventory. The identification system was implemented by the DoD as an quality assurance program designed to eliminate misplacement, duplicacy, and piracy of articles and items.

The rules and regulations of the program are quite detailed and cover all processes such as UID verification, registration, labeling techniques, and technologies. In this article, we will focus on the importance of the labels, how they are categorized, how to properly mark equipment and other assets, and how they help in the preservation of both government and commercial assets.

The DoD has specified all standard protocol for proper handling of with identification registration. A contractor must first apply for license certification. Documentation of all production-related issues is required before the DoD will approve the application. The objective is simple: To label each item with a unique identifier so that each can be tracked throughout its entire lifecycle.

Mil Spec 130 states the techniques to be followed for marking the required items. It states that:

• The tags or labels should be permanent.

• The tags should be permanently marked either by indented, laser marked, inkjet, or chemical etching processes.

• When fixed to the items and/or products, the tags should be placed in a visible location to facilitate a clear scan.

• The tags should be of high quality and be well maintained, as they are meant to serve the lifespan of the commodity.
Apart from these regulations, the protocol is also very specific about the storage and export of articles containing the unique identifier. This is one reason that the information on the tags is recorded with the help of a 2D data matrix scanner. This means that the item can be traced anytime, should it need to be quickly located and retrieved or reassigned. This also helps tighten security measures.

However, not all items require UID labels. There are several regulations detailing precisely what equipment qualifies for labeling. These regulations can sometimes be difficult to decipher for manufacturers, who may not be sure which – if any – of their products require a label. For clarification or assistance on these regulations, visit ID Integration, Inc. online at www.id-integration.com.

As with anything new, Voice Over Internet Protocol has gotten a lot of attention. It has been touted as being the wave of the future. It can save money and simplify your business operations. But VoIP isn’t for every company. And does it deliver on its promises?

First, what is VoIP? Simply, it’s Voice over Internet Protocol – using the Internet as a voice phone line and more. Second, why is it becoming so popular, and could your company use it? This answer is much less simple, because there are in fact a great many things that could influence your decision. Ask a business why they use the service and they will cite its features packages, and low costs, and very possibly its reliability. Let’s take a look at just some of the reasons this service is used and a few pros and cons.

One reason it’s popular has to do with the ease of installation. So long as a business has an Internet connection and computers – and they almost always will – the set up and use of this advanced technology shouldn’t be at all difficult. Having regular phone service would mean a company would have to pay for phone lines and all the other lines connected to and within the business. With business VoIP, this is no longer a requirement. Most companies already have a broadband connection, and when using VoIP, they will use their broadband connection without paying the fees for another installed system. This is not always the case, though. When you put voice and data on the same network, it can be a complex situation.

Before you do anything, you have to make sure your infrastructure is up to the task of supporting IP based voice and data. If it isn’t, going with VoIP will be a nightmare. If you are seriously thinking about VoIP, your company should do a pre-deployment assessment. If you have older or inadequate infrastructure, you may have to upgrade your network, which might cancel out any savings you might receive.

Another factor to take into consideration is the fact that with switching to VoIP service, your telecom personnel will need to become IT proficient and/or your IT personnel will need to become more familiar with the intricacies of telecom.

Probably the biggest single reason that providers promote for any company to switch over from their typical phone service to VoIP is the lower overall costs. They pitch that while small businesses might have to pay more for their scale than large ones comparatively, business VoIP leaves its predecessors in the dust.

However, these huge cost savings were more common in the initial days of VoIP solutions. Then, the service wasn’t as reliable but the cost was much cheaper than traditional phone service. Today, the service offered by VoIP is nearly as good as basic phone service, but the price difference is not nearly as wide. If your company is looking at VoIP as a primary way to cut costs, you should take a hard look at all the costs involved to make sure it’s right for you.

One last item that providers publicize about their VoIP service is the customization that was not previously available to them. No matter how big or small a business might be, VoIP providers are almost always willing to work with them on an individual basis, finding them the plan that works best for their size and all of their employees.

VoIP providers are also big fans of the perks companies can get, the number of which has grown hugely in recent years. Providers offer all sorts of things that might cost extra with traditional phone lines, including multi-line services, call waiting, caller ID, call return, call block and more – and with VoIP you can have them all.

It all comes down to figuring out why your company wants VoIP. Switching can be an expensive proposition. Not only in buying or upgrading equipment, but also with re-educating employees and time spent making the system work correctly. It has great potential and will provide some advantages to nearly any company, but not everyone should make the switch.

To truly take advantage of VoIP and the multimedia applications that come with it, your workforce should be distributed with branch offices or satellite offices, telecommuters and personnel out in the field.

As you can see, there are reasons for a company to consider getting rid of landlines in favor of VoIP phones. There are also reasons not to. With an economy where companies are looking to cut corners, it’s not surprising that they are looking at switching to VoIP. VoIP can be a great thing, but it might not be a great thing for your company.

The reality is that if your organization is thinking about making the switch to VoIP, you should do your homework. You should know why you are switching and make sure to get a detailed costs/benefits analysis before making your decision.

Oil water separator equipment has been a shipboard requirement since the 1970’s, but recently it has become evident that oil water separators have not been as effective as had been assumed. Actual and alleged improper operation (sometimes called a Magic Pipe) of this equipment by shipboard crews has resulted in criminal prosecutions of engine room crew members in the United States and to a lesser extent in Europe.

Oily bilge water is almost an unavoidable product in ship operations. Bilge water that is generated in proximity to shipboard equipment (such as in the engine room) often contains oil. Direct discharge of this water would result in undesirable transfer of waste oil to the marine environment. By international agreement under the MARPOL convention, most commercial vessels need to be fitted with an oily water separator to remove oil contaminants before bilge water is pumped overboard. Overboard oil discharge is illegal.

The international shipping community in general, began requiring new ships and ships replacing separators (over 400 tons) to meet the new IMO MEPC 107(49) requirements in January of 2005. This regulation requires removal of not only free oil as the previous regulation did, but also what is called “fluid C” or what is generally accepted and defined as “emulsions”. SkimOil’s BRUTE marine oil water separator is a rugged yet simple oil water separator, built from the ground up with quality components, in an ASME code shop to very tight standards. New controls technology make reliable automatic HOA operations a reality. These BRUTE separators meet all IMO/MEPC 107 (49) requirements (USCG ABS/BV certified) with a tough, simple, efficient and well built (in USA) marine oil water separator system.

Oil content monitors are now required to track results of separation. This new requirement significantly raised the price of a bilge separator and limited the separators to choose from. The BRUTE Series 107 marine oil separator, brings the toughest, most practical and economical system available today to meet this new requirement. The BRUTE separator filter exchange program makes it easy to replace and dispose of spent filters. The filter media used is generic and readily available throughout North and South America.

The new IMO MEPC 107(49) requirements do require that the oil content monitors are able to detect EVEN emulsified oils, reducing possible “illegal discharge of oils” over and above the 15 ppm limits. Even for those not mandated to comply with IMO/MEPC 107 (49), the BRUTE 107 Series separator system provides a level of insurance against “illegal-over limit discharges”.

SkimOil Inc, works with companies who have problems dealing with, handling or disposing of oily / dirty water, providing workable alternatives for their maintenance, pollution control, operational and special waste disposal problems. SkimOil oil skimmers and oil water separators are used in over 40 countries across the world. SkimOil Inc BRUTE marine oil water separator systems are built to specifically address individual problems, needs and requirements, by using existing specialty, unique and innovative equipment or technologies, modified, configured or otherwise packaged into SkimOil systems built to fit your specific needs. It is clear that the best choice for a safe and approved marine oil and water separator is SkimOil Inc BRUTE #BBOWS 107 Series separator systems.

For more information about marine oil water separators by SkimOil Inc., please call (314) 579-9755, email at info@skimoil.com

Many industries use large processing plants to quickly and efficiently manufacture products in bulk. The food industry requires these plants to produce our peanut butter, juices, sauces, and cereal. Processing equipment is used in the pharmaceutical industry to make lotions, cosmetics, crÃ¨mes, gels, emulsions, toothpaste, eye drops, shampoo, makeup, and hair care products. Chemical mixing processing equipment is used to produce adhesives, varnishes, coatings, ink and paint. In addition, processing lines are used in the plastics and polymers, waste water treatment, cement, iron and steel, and pet food industries.

Production lines in these industries often require measuring out of either ingredients or finished products. At various stages in the process, ingredients may have to be mixed together in order to produce the final product. It is extremely important that this mixing of ingredients follow a very precise recipe. If even the slightest change has been made to this recipe, the characteristics of the product can vary greatly from the intended product, which can cause a company thousands of dollars of wasted goods. At the end of the production process, the finished product may have to be batched out into packing in order to be shipped.

There are two different methods of measuring out material in process equipment. Material may be measured out volumetrically with an auger or a measuring wheel. Often, it is much more practical and precise to measure out material by weight. A weight-loss method may be used, which measures the amount of material that is released from a screw meter feeder. A weight conveyor belt can be used to measure the amount of material that is coming on and off at a time. A popular method of precision weighing of material is the weight-gain method. One example of this is the use of drum scales, a type of electronic scale manufactured by Arlyn Scales, for filling drums of chemicals.

The weight-gain method is particularly important when creating mixtures of more than one ingredient. Rather than requiring one industrial scale for each feeder, which can become expensive, this method requires only one electronic scale for the mixer. One ingredient at a time is introduced into the mixer and the digital scale measures the difference between the original weight without this ingredient and the weight with this ingredient. When the proper amount of ingredient has been added to the mixture, the electronic scale sends a signal to a valve to close.

One example of industrial scales in process equipment is their use in paint mixing. When paints are mixed, very precise ratios of each color must be added to each mixture so that identical colors are produced each and every time, along with reducers and hardeners. Specialized computerized scales, which are made by Arlyn Scales, automate the paint mixing process by measuring out each ingredient as it is added to the paint mixture.

Since precision is so important when using processing equipment, it is reasonable to require a scale with the highest possible precision. Arlyn Scales Surface Acoustic Wave (SAW) Ultra-precision scales provide the sensitivity and capacity necessary for the demands of process equipment. Arlyn’s SAW-C line of scales have a capacity of 100 lb. which a readability of .001 lb, while other 100 lb. capacity scales have readabilities of only .02 lb or higher.

In process equipment, digital scales can send signals to valves and other filling devices to control the amount of or whether any material is being released. In the food industry, ingredients must be mixed together in precise ratios. When making peanut butter, a manufacturer may need 145 lb. of peanuts, 10 lb. of oil, and 15 lb. of sugar. As the peanuts are being added to the mixture, an industrial scale is taking weight measurements of the blender. When 145 lb. of peanuts have been added, the electronic scale sends a signal to power a solid state relay which can close the filling device. It is even possible to set more than one set point. In this case, the manufacturer may choose to slow down the rate of filling when the weight reaches 125 lb. to allow for a more precise measurement. Once the peanut filling device has been closed, the oil filling device automatically opens up, followed by the sugar filling device.

It is also important for industrial scales in processing equipment to be able to communicate with computers. High quality scales, such as those manufactured by Arlyn Scales, offer USB and Ethernet ports for universal connectivity.

Do you want the ability to copy your Wii games and play them om your Wii console?
Do you want to start playing Wii homebrew apps and experience the benefits of it?
How about playing dvd’s and running other software on your Wii?

By homebrewing your wii you can enjoy region coded games from all over the world, play DVD’s and be able to play all the sega games out there which are free by the way. There are two ways of going about this.

The hard way is by installing a external modification chip inside the console. But this can be very dangerous if you don’t know what your doing. When installing a chip you have to open the console and mess around with the electronics and install the chip. And by doing this you void the warranty of your system. So if you’re not an expert you have a real risk of ruining it. This can be a very expensive risk by going this route.

But there is a new way of going about this without the hassle of loading a mod chip. And this involves a software upgrade which does the thing as the chip. Instead of the chip by passing the safeguards in the system to play homebrew applications you have a software upgrade that does the same thing without the chance of voiding your warranty. This new way is going in popularity all over the internet. This way is the safest way by far. Why take the risk of ruining your console?

Whichever route you choose you will be able to enjoy all the benefits wii homebrew apps can offer. Since I started using home brew applications my Wii is like a whole new powerful machine.

With Wii Secrets Exposed, you can do this. This new product will show you how to run the Wii Homebrew application by safely unlocking your Wii. This program uses a fool-proof method, so it can’t go wrong. If you installed Wii homebrew, you can play every backed-up, imported and region coded game. Along with dvd’s, you can also play games that were originally designed for other platforms, such as N64, SNES and Sega Genesis, by using the homebrew emulator feature. And the best part of this, is that it’s 100% legal.

This method does not demand any mod-chips of other hardware modifications, because it only uses software.

The software includes the following features:

* Install the Homebrew application easily without opening your console.
* Easily make multiple copies of your own Wii games and play them.
* Play any DVD`s and MP3`s simply with the advanced DVD player.
* Get unlimited lifetime upgrades for free with the best features.
* Play games from the N64, Sega Genesis (Megadrive), SNES + more!
* Works on version 4.0 and lower with NO Zelda game!
* Play import games from different regions with ease.
* And more!

Get more out of your Wii console by running Wii homebrew applications. Once installed, it will let you install other applications, simple and safely, and you even keep your warranty.

If you want to homebrew your wii safely and instantly , then follow the easy instructions that we provide, and that’s all! Within a few minutes, you will be running the Homebrew application on your unlocked Wii.

VoIP stands for Voice over Internet Protocol and is quickly becoming a fixture in the corporate world. Ask why and you’ll get a barrage of answers, ranging from the money companies save to various packages that can be added on for little additional costs. Those who tout VoIP promise many benefits over the traditional PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network). The most mentioned ones are cost savings, new calling features, and reduced infrastructure of converged networks. Here is a closer look at just a few of the reasons behind the popularity of VoIP.

In the past, Internet telephone services have been seen as being of a lower quality or less reliable than the regular phone lines that came before them. However, this is no longer true, and an increasing number of businesses have started using business VoIP, which can get them connections just as good as their traditional ones, but at a lower cost.

The potential advantages to VoIP come in two categories – hard benefits and soft benefits. These hard advantages have a clearly defined cost savings like the amount of money saved every year by replacing a PBX with a VoIP server. Soft benefits, however, may or may not save the company actual money. An example would be the increased productivity of employees able to access their phones while traveling.

The first reason for VoIP’s popularity is that business VoIP is easy to use for any company that has computers and an Internet connection – in other words, basically every company around. When companies add a service provider, they almost never have any trouble making the transition or setting up and using their new service. Transitioning takes a little planning and usually it’s made easier when a Telecom Management professional is involved. A company is now usually able to keep their old phone number when they switch.

Reason number two for many is the perks that are offered by service providers to the companies that use them. These include multi-line services, call waiting, caller ID, call return, call block and more. The expansion of VoIP providers in recent years means that there is little you can get from a regular phone line that you can’t get at better rates with the new technology.

Again, the overall costs for business VoIP are also a big plus to its users. Small businesses have to pay a bit more, but for the most part, rates are still much lower than those offered by normal phone service companies. Add-ons are cheap as well. Many companies only have to pay about one cent a minute for international calls and some simply have unlimited calls.

Business VoIP allows companies to better use tools they already have. Instead of having to pay for an entirely separate system of phone lines, companies can just use the broadband Internet connection they probably already have. VoIP maximizes the potential of this present outlet without requiring the installation and fees of an additional one.

Yet another thing that companies love about VoIP service is the ability to have their plan custom fit to their individual needs. Nearly all VoIP providers will work with businesses of any scale, letting them have features adapted to a very large or small number of users. This way, each consumer gets the best deal for all of its employees.

VoIP phones are equipped with features like call forwarding, voice mail boxes, and call records which will make company communications more efficient. Portability is another great feature with VoIP service. Employees who travel frequently can make calls through the Internet and have their same extension number and user applications still available to them. This enhanced mobility lets companies allow employees to have more flexible work options. This could improve productivity and reduce facility and real estate costs for some companies.

The addition of voice mail, email and fax integration, the application of Unified Messaging – the ability to retrieve your messages anytime, anywhere and in any way – is another alluring productivity enticement. Also, the ever-annoying game of “phone tag” could be eliminated with advanced call routing. Call routing can also be integrated with CRM systems (Customer Relationship Management) to check customer information and route calls to the appropriate number. There are always new features and applications to use and these new features can be added to VoIP phones more quickly and easily than traditional systems.

When they really start to look at business VoIP, companies will find that they don’t really lose anything in exchange for lower prices – in fact, they gain a lot. Fast and trustworthy, VoIP phones aren’t really that different than landlines – they just don’t have all the bills. For those struggling with hard economic times, that’s great for a better bottom-line.